Breadcrumbs

City Considers Extending Lease for My Place Transitional Housing at 1240 Yates Street to September 30, 2016

March 25, 2016

The City of Victoria has been approached by BC Housing to extend the lease of 1240 Yates Street for continued use as transitional housing for 40 people.

City Council is considering the lease extension, under its current operating model, subject to comments from Central Middle School, its Parent Advisory Committee, School District 61, the two neighbourhood associations, and upon hearing from residents at a community meeting on Monday, April 11, 2016. More details about the community meeting will be available next week.

The My Place transitional shelter has been offering 24/7 support services, storage, laundry and daily meals, to 40 people without homes, since early January 2016. Over the past four months, Our Place Society has been working closely with all neighbouring properties, residents, and the school community, to listen to concerns, and mitigate impacts to the neighbourhood.

In the fall of 2015, the City of Victoria consulted the community about how best to create shelter for those without homes. The majority of respondents to an online survey and attendees at a ‘sheltering solutions’ workshop supported expanding existing shelters, or using existing vacant buildings for temporary shelters, over expanding options for sheltering in City parks.

While the City consults the community about their experience over the past four months since My Place opened, and the potential lease extension, the City has expressed their desire to see BC Housing extend the duration of other seasonal shelters currently being provided.

The long term future of the property at 1240 Yates Street is actively being explored and is being considered as part of the redevelopment of the Victoria Fire Department Headquarters. A Request for Proposals for the Fire Hall #1 Development Project, including this property, will be issued on Tuesday, March 29, 2016.